TOWN SLIP TO ONE NIL DEFEAT

Whitstable slipped to a disappointing one nil defeat at home to Crawley Down Gatwick on Tuesday evening.

The early pressure came from Crawley Down and after eight minutes they had their first opportunity when Bradley Lewis fired a shot at Matt Lamprell who saved well. Town had to wait to the 14th minute when Scott Heard sent in a shot come cross from a free kick that tested the keeper Kieron Thorpe but he did well to stop the

Ball is cleared off Crawley Down goal line

attempt. Town were now getting more into their stride and two minutes later a ball came to Gary Cook whose shot went wide of the target. Heard was again in the action a further two minutes on but his shot on the volley also slipped wide. On 25 minutes a melee in the Town penalty area saw the ball ricochet around the penalty area but eventually found its way to Lamprell whose handling was sound all evening. Again there was pressure on the Town goal a minute later when the ever dangerous Jordan Johnson pulled the ball back and a deflection sent the ball onto the post and away. On the half hour Laurence Harvey came into the action and had a shot from short range that was blocked by a defender. Lamprell was on hand to save well to his left as Ashley Robinson hammered in a shot. The half score line could have been so different if either side could have converted any of the opportunities that they had.

Town pressed in the second half and after 57 minutes man of the match Heard sent in a cross that found Joe Lester but the young striker could not get his shot away. Again two minutes Lester had an opportunity but could not quite lift the ball high enough above the advancing Thorpe. Then came the killer blow for the visitors on 61 minutes when Liam Wright hit in a shot from the left hand side of the penalty area. The ball rebounded back to him and he made no mistake with his second opportunity. Town then started to attack and after 68 minutes Heard launched a shot high over the bar and this was followed by a Cook attempt that was cleared off the line. Substitute David Raggett had two opportunities in short succession after 77 minutes but his final

Joe Lester on the attack

header was easily saved by Thorpe. Town were now getting desperate for the equaliser with an chance for Lester four minutes from time but that went over the bar.

The end result was disappointing for the Town as they need to capitalise on the opportunities they created.

RT @ksnfootball This afternoon @KENTSPORTSNEWS will be out braving the cold to cover a number of games. Today's featured games are:
Gillingham v Walsall, Welling United v Eastbourne Borough
Cray Wanderers v VCD Athletic, Whitstable Town v Faversham, Chatham Town v Bearsted pic.twitter.com/M7yFlCS7Cd